Signaling system



Ge F. ATWOOD.

SIGNALING SYSTEM. `APPn|cAT|oN man JUNE 5, 1919.

Patented Feb. 1,1921.

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term a 'flap before insertion in the sending e n UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE ATWOOD, OFYTEWABK, NEXTT JERSEY, SSTC-NOR TO `iJVES'LIERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, O1? NEW" T5933, N. Y., A. CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

SIGNALING- SYSTEM.

Application filed June 5, 1919.

To all whom it' may concern v Be it known that l, Grenen F. Ei'ifwoon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the` county ot Essen, State oi N ew Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Systems, oii which the following is a iull, clear, concise, and exact description.

Two receiving stations i and B, each having a pair oi' tubes 10 and 11 extending from difeient sending stations (not shown) are illustrated. The tubes 10 and 11 at each receiving station open into a common delivery tube 12, the lower end or" which terminates between a pair oi soit rubber rollers 123 normally in close contact and which serve to remove a ticket from the delivery tube 1:2 without admitting air thereto. 'The tube 12 is perforated as atV 14 and exceot for its lower end which extends between the rollers 13, is located within an airtight casing 15, having a pipe 15 entending therein through which air flowing through the tubes 10, 11 and 12 is exhausted by any suitable means (not shown). eil'- tight joints are provided where the tubes 10, 11i and 12 extend through the casing 15. rihe particular delivery apparatus shown corresponds with that shown in a patent to finies F. Dixon, No. 1,065,924, issued July 1, 1913, and while' arrangement especially satisfactory, any other suitable deliverv apparatus maybe used to facilitate the removal oi the tickets 'from the delivery tube12. i

ln ticket distributing systems et' the type shown the tickets 17 usually ot r tangular orm and are bent trans .rselv to tube. .Thcair exlefusted Jrom the tub fvance oi' theticlret and the resultant higher air pressure the rea et' the ticket acts against the flap to cause VLhe forward movement et the ticket. Under normal condition's the ticket 1"? isl moved forward until it lreaches the bottom of the delivery tube 12 at the desired receiving station, where it is seized by the rollers 13 andremoved 'trom the tube/12.

Tickets occasionally become stuck in the tubes 10 and 11 and also in the delivery tube 12 and although blocked ticket will often be released within a 'few moments, it is desir-,able to indicate the presence of a Specification of Letters Patent.

.Patented Feb. 1,v 1921. serian No. $01,860. i

blockade and its location immediately upon the occurrence thereof, so that steps ma .be taken at once to remove the blockade bewith the tube v10 by communicating tube,

21 and the right-hand compartment is connected with the tube 11 by a similar communicating tube 22. In the normal operation oi the pneumatic system, the air pressure in the tubes 10 and 11 is substantially Vthe same, in which case the diaphragm 2O remains in the central position, since the pressure on Vopposite sides thereof is sub stantially the same. Should a ticket 17 become blocked in the tube 10, however, the pressure in the tube l() in advance ot the ticket is reduced in comparison with the air pressure in the tube 11 so that the diaphragm 20 is bowed toward the left. pair of spring contacts 23 and 2a are mounted in the left-hand compartment o' the relay 18, and adjusting screws and 25 regulate the relative movement ot the contact 23 necessary tol engage it with the contact 2li. A similar paie.x oi contacts 2"( and l28 are mounted in the right-hand compartment, and provided with adjusting screws 29 and 30, for a like purpose. ll/iovement of the diaphragm moves the contacts 23 and accordingly, and the adjusting screws 25 and 29 can also be used to regulate the difference in pressure in the two compartments netessary to eilfect a given movement of the contacts 23 and 27 respectively.

The relay 18 is preferably so adjusted that the difference in pressure necessary to engage the contacts 23 and 24 or 27 and 28, respectively, will be sufficiently high so that minor fluctuations occurring in' the tubes 10 and 1i will not engage such contacts, but atthe same time suiciently lo.7 so that the diierence in pressure due to the blockade of a ticket in either one of the tubes 1() ror 11 will lengage the appropriate joair ot contacts. Assuming that ablel kade bccurs in tube l0, contacts 123 and 24 are engaged, thereby completing an operating,` 'circuit for an electromagnetic relay 3l individual to these contacts. rllhis cir cuit ei;- tends 'from battery 32, Winding ot relay lll, conductor 33, contacts and 2d, and a common conductor 3dbacl to battery. IEhe resultant ope ation ot relay 3l, thereby coinpletes a circuit tor the signal lamp 35; the illumination of whith indicates that a blockade exists in the tube l0 o'll station il. 'l his circuit extends from battery 3:2, lamp 35, upper armature and alternate contact et' relay 8l and conductor to battery. f relay 36 and lamp 37 are similarly cont` ille/d by the contacts 27 and 28 ci' station fi, a d illumination ol'I the lamp 3i' indicates` a blockade in the tube ll ot station il.. The contacts 23 and 2li, and contacts and of station B respectively control relay 38 and lamp 39, and a relay d0 and lamp Lll; illumination of lamp 89 indie"AL- blockade in the tube l0 ot station illumination ot lamp ill indicating; a bloclrade in tube ll thereof.

The pneumatic relay ll) is also divided into tWo compartments by a tleiiible diaphragm 4t2 'forming an air-tight partition between the compartments, and the lefthand compartment is connected to both of the tubes l0 and just above their point ol connection With the delivery tube l by a communieating;` tube ll. The right-hand compartment is similarly connected with the casing l5 nel the lower end oi" the delivery tube l2 by a communieating; tube In event oi bloclrades occurring,v in the delivery tube l2, the air pressure in the casing' la will be materially reduced in relation to the air pressure in the tubes l() and ll. and bow the diaphragm el?, to the right. pair of contacts and Li6 mounted in the righthand compartinei'it ot relay and havingadjusting screws and e8, described for the relay i8, are engaged a consequence and complete an ogeratinfr circuit 'for an individual relay Ll), contro fr sienal lamp 50. illumination olf the 5'() indicates the presence of a blocltaci the delivery tube l2 o1" station its. ontacts and lo ot the pneumatic relay '9 oit station l5 control a relay 5l and lainp 52, the illumination ol the lamp 52 similarly indicating; the presence oi a iloclrade in the delivery tube l?. ot station it will be noted that a blockade occurring in the delivery tube lf2 does not operate ne relay 1S since the pressure in the tubes l() and l1 is substantially the same under this condition. An additional blockade occuring in tube l() or il oi" that station would, how? ever, operate the relay if) thereof to indicate the additional stoppage, in the same manner as previously described.

is soon as a blockade is cleared, either with or Without aid, the relay 18 or 19 il El momie affected returns to its normal position, disengagingi the engaged contacts. nessun/ling the blockade Was in tube l0 of station il, upon clearance thereofV the contacts 23 and ot relay 18 are disengaged, denergizingl relay El, which releases, opening the circuit of lamp 35, thus electing, the extinguishinent thereof, and indicating' that tuoe l() is again in proper conditionu jhould a blockade or bloclades continue beyond the period in which they should clear themselves, or be cleared by an attendant vvhose duty it is to remove blockades, it is desirable indicate this tact by a special signal which is not operated until the blockade has continued beyond this predetermined interval, Which niigiht. in practice be about a hair" minute. i signal lamp has been shown for this purpose and might in practice ce located at a point convenient ilor the observation of the attendant, his supervisor, or both. desired an audible alarm 5d arranged in a local circuit may also be provided and controlled through a relay 55 included in the operating' circuit ol the lamp ln this a hand switch 56 may be included in the local circuit of the audible signal 5d, and closed or opened *accordingl to whether or not it is desired to have the audible signal 5d actuator., in unison with the illumination ci the lamp 53.

The signal lamp is initially illuminate upon the completion oit a circuit therel which closed upon the engageinen" contacts 57 and ot a ctary stein switch 59. rllhe contact 5"? mounted on a arin G0 carried by a toothed Wheel 6i, nornially held in the position shown by a spring G2, Which serves to normally hold the arrn 6G against a stop G3. 6s*- controls the movez an arm b5, carrying; a stepping;I paivl G6 which engages the teeth ot the Wheel (il to move it 'forward one' one step upon each ene/ign ation or the man- ,l 1 ,i am @L 1 not Gil. n notent pani is normally old (Jut 0; ifli armature 63, the movern ed by u niacin lnent with the Wheel 6l, by an t ol which is cons ie macnet of) is is energized 'upon and mainthe occurrence or tained enev continues, or until illumination of the signal lamp 553, as hereinafter explained. long; as the magnet 69 is 't tetent 6i" is in a position to iccordinc'l.

magnet Gd and the magnet 69 also e.i.end

l stepping magnet armatures of rela 7s 49 36 and 3l winding- 7 7 of relay 73, and serially through the normal Y contacts ot the lower armatures of relays 38, 46 and 5l to the other side of battery. The relay 73 while energized maintains the contact 72 epen and prevent' the energiza-- tion of the magnets d 65) so long asno blockades are present. is soon as a blockade occurs, however, the operation of the individual relay affected, for example, relay 3l, in addition to closing the circuit for lts lamp 35,- opens its normal lower armature contact, thereby interrupting the circuit of relay 73, and effecting the closure of contact 72. y

The circuit to operate relay 69 is thereby completed, extending from grounded bat tery 74, winding of relay 69,; normal righthand armature oit a relay 75, contact 72 and conductor 34 to ground, and detent pawl 67 accordingly moves into engagement with wheel 61. Upon the next closure of contact 70, the circuit for the stepping magnet 64 is momentarily closed and the wheel 61 moved forward one tooth, and held in this position by the pawl V67. This circuit extends from grounded battery 76, contact 70, winding of stepping magnet 6.4, right-hand normal contactof relay 75, contact 72 and conductor 34 to ground. The contact 72 remains closed so long as any-blockade continues and the operating circuitof magnet 64 is again momentarily completed on the next closure of contact 70, six seconds after the first completion. The wheel 6l is thereby moved forward another tooth and assuming that theblockade continues for at least four more six-second intervals thereatter, the, wheel 61 will be Vmoved orward six teeth. Upjon the last step ot the sir, the contacts 57 and 58 will 4be engaged, completingthe initial energizing circuit for the signal lamp 53 and the relay 55, this eircuit extending from grounded battery, 74,

arm 60, contacts 517 vand 58, lamp 53, and

a .winding of relay 55 to ground. Relay 75 is also Operated at this time over circuit extending from grounded battery 74, arm 60, contacts 57 and 58, winding of relay 75 and normally closed key 77 to ground.

The energization of relay 75 completes a looking circuit for itself ,extending from grounded battery 74, alternate contacts of left-hand armature and winding or" relay 75, and key 77 to ground, and also a parallel circuit from the alternate Contact of its left-hand armature through lamp 53 and winding of relay 55 to ground. Energization of relay 75 also opens at its right-hand armature. the circuitsfor .the magnets Y64 and 69. Preventing further forward inerement of the wheel 6l, and effecting the retraction of the detent pawl 67 therefrom, whereupon the spring 62 returns the wheel 6l to its normal position, disengaging the contacts 57 and 58. Under these conditions stepping of the wheel 6l will not taire place independent of the additional time during which theblockade may continue. The signal lamp. 53 is however maintained lighted, and the audible signal 54 will also'be operated (assuming the switch 56, is closed) un Vtil the attendant or supervisor ascertains that the blockade has been cleared, whereupon he will operate the key 77.y The relay is thereby denergized and eilects the extinguishment of the signal lamp 53 vand the ae'energization of relay 55 with a conse-- quent opening of the local circuit of the audible signal 54. The normal contact of Athe right-hand armature et relay 75 is also closed in this operation, conditioning the circuits or' the magnets 64 and 69 forl subsequent operation as previously described,

Should the blockade be cleared before the engagement of the contactsr57 and 58, the individual relay of the tube. affected, for example relay 31, would be released, estinguishing its lamp 35, and restoring the operating circuit of relay 73, assuming that no other blockades exist. The consequent operation of relay 73 opens the contact 79 thereby preventing Jfurther energization of the stepping magnet 64, and deenergizing magnet 69, thereby effecting the release of the detent pawl 67 and restoring the wheel 6l to its normal position. In this situation the signal lamp 53 and the audible signal 54 will not be operated, theblockade or blockades having all been clearedwithinthe allowed interval.

This invention relates to Vsigifialing systems and more particularly to signalingsystems applicable to pneumatic despatch systems to indicate the occurrence of blockades 1,10 therein. j Y

The principal object of the invention. is to provide a signaling system Ito indicate the occurrence and location of blockades in a pneumatic despatch system in which blockades continuing for longer than a predetermined interval will operate an additional signal to indicate this fact. ln accordance with this object a feature of the present invention resides vin the provision of signals and meansv controlled by blockades occurring in the pneumatic system controlling the operation of such signals, together with an additional signal and means actuating such additional signal, in event the pneumatic despatch system is yblockaded in excess otra predetermined consecutive interval.

The drawing diagrammatically illustrates One embodiment, 0f the `present nyention as 41,130

applied to a pneumatic ticket distributing system suitable tor use in telephone exchanges.

WhatV is claimed is :V

l. A signaling system comprising a guide- Way, means to propel material to be conveyed along the guideway, a signal to indicate the condition of the propelling means, means to change the condition of the signal on a change in the condition olf the propelling means, a second signal, and means to change the condition of the second signal on the continuance oi the changed condition or the propelling means in excess ot a deter-mined interval.

Q A signaling system comprising a plurality of guideways, means to propel material to be conveyed along the guideways, a signal to indicate the condition ot the propelling means in one ot the guideways relative to the condition ot' the propelling` means in another ot the guideways, means to change the condition of the signal on a change in the relative condition of the propelling means With reference to the guidevvays, a second signal, and means to change the condition ot' the second signal on the continuance of such changed relative condition ofthe propellingr means in excess of a determined interval.

3. lA signaling system comprising a tube, a signal to indicate the condition within the tube, means to change the condition ot' the si nal on a change ot condition within the tu e, a second signal, and means to change the condition of the second signal on the con tinuance of the changed condition within such tubo in excess of a determined interval.

4. A signaling system comprising a plurality of tubes, a signal to indicate the condition Within one ot the tubes relative to another, means to change the condition of the signal on a change in the relative condition Within such tubes, a second signal and means to change the condition of the second signal on the continuance of the change in relative condition within such tubes in excess of a determined interval. c

5. A signaling system comprising a tube, a signal to indicate the occurrence of blockades therein, means to change the condition of the signal on the occurrence of a blockade in the tube, a second signal, and means to change the condition of the secondisignal on the continuance of a blockade in excess of a determined interval.

6. A signaling system comprising a tube, a signal to indicate theoccurrence ot blockades therein, means to change the condition of the signal on the occurrence of a blockade in the tube, a second signal, and means to automatically change the condition of the second signal on the continuance of blockadel in excess ot a determined interval.

7.. A signaling system comprising a pluanemia rality of tubes, signals to indicate the occurrence ot blockades in the respective tubes, means to change the condition ot the signal allotted to a tube on occurrence of a blockade in such tube, a second signal, and means to change the condition ot the second signal on the continuance ot a blockade in excess ot a determined interval.

8 A signaling system comprising a plurality ot tubes, a signal individual to each of the tubes to indicate the condition of its respective tube, means to change the condition ot' the signal individual to each tube on occurrence of a blockade in the tube, another signal, and means to change the condition oit such other signal on continuance ot a blockade in excess of a determined interval.

9. A signaling system comprising a plurality ot tubes, signals selectively operable 4to indicate the occurrence of blockades in the respective tubes, means to change the condition ot the signal allotted to each tube on occurrenceot' a blockade in such tube, a second signal common to said plurality ot tubes, and means to change the condition of the second signal on the continuance ot a blockade in any tube in excess of a predetermined interval.

10. A signaling system comprising a tube,

a signal to indicate the occurrence of blockades therein, means to change the condition of the signal on occurrence or" a blockade in the tube, a second signal, means to initially change the condition ot the second signal on the continuance ot the blockade beyond a predetermined interval, means to thereafter maintain the second signal in such changed condition independent of the subsequent clearance ot such blockade, and manually controlled means to restore the second signal to its previous condition.

l1. A signaling system comprising a tube, a signal to indicate the occurrence ot blockades therein, means to change the conditions of the signal on occurrence ot' a blockade in the tube, a second signal, a timing device set in operation on the occurrence of a blockade to initially change the condition of the Second signal, means to thereafter maintain the second signal in such changed con-' dition, and means to restore the timing device to its normal condition during the maintenance of the second signal in such changed condition.

12. A signaling system comprising a tube, asignal to indicate the occurrence ot blockades therein. means to change the condition ot the signal on occurrence ot a blockade in the tube, a second signal, a timing device set in operation upon the occurrence ot a blockade to initially change the condition of the second signal on the continuance of a blockade in excess of a predetermined interval and restored to normal condition subselll) quent to the operation of means to maintain the second signal in such changed condition, means to maintain the second signal in such changed condition, Vand means to prevent subsequent operation of the timing device during the maintenance of the second signal n such changed condition.

' 13. A signaling system comprising a tube, a signal to indicate thc occurrence oic blockades therein, means to change the condition of the signal on occurrence or' a blockade in the tube, a second signal, a timing device set in operation on the occurrence of a blockade to initially change the condition of the second signal upon the contine uance ofa blockade in excess of a predetermined interval and restored to normal condition subsequent to the operation or" means to maintain the second signal in such changed condition, means to maintain the second signal in such changed condition, means to restore the second signal to its previous condition, and means to prevent subsequent operation of the timing device until after the restoration of the second signal to its previous condition.

14. A signaling system comprising a plurality of tubes, a signal individual to etch of the tubes to indicate the occurrence of a blockade in its respective tube, a second signal common to the plurality of tubes, means to change the condition of the signal individual to a tube on the occurrence of a blockade in such tube, and means to change the condition of the second signal on the continuance of a blockade in any of the tubes in excess of a determined interval.

15. A signaling system comprising a plurality of tubes, signals to selectively indicate the occurrence of blockades in the tubes, means individual to the tubes to selectivelyT operate one of the signals upon occurrence of a blockade in one of the tubes, a second signal, a timing device set in operation on the occurrence of a blockade operative to change the condition of the second signal on the continuance of a blockade in excess of a predetermined interval, a controlling circuit for the timing device, means common to the rst mentioned signals to change the condition of the controlling circuit on the occurrence of a blockade to set the timing device in operation, and a circuit governing the common means controlled jointly by the individual means and changed in condition by the operation of any one of the individual means in response to a blockade occurring in its respective tube.

16. A signaling system comprising a plurality of tubes, signals to selectively indicate the occurrence of blockades in the tubes, means individual to the tube to selectively operate one of the signals on the occurrence of a blockade in one of the tubes, a second signal, a timing device set in operation" upon the occurrence of a blockade operative to change the condition of the second signal on the continuance of a blockade in excess of a predetermined interval, a controlling circuit for the timing device, means common to the first mentioned signals governing the controlling circuit and normally maintaining this circuit in open condition, and a normally closed circuit for the common means opened upon the operation of any one or" the individual means.

17. A signaling system comprising a plurality of tubes, signals individual to the respective tubes to selectively indicate the occurrence of blockades in the tubes, means ndividual to each of said signals operated on the occurrence of a blockade in a tube to change the condition of the signal individual to such tube, a second signal, a timing device set in operation on the occurrence of a blockade operative to change the condition of the second signal on the continuance of a blockade in excess of a predetermined interval, a controlling circuit for the timing device, and means common to the means individual to the signals governing said controlling circuit and normally maintaining this circuit in open condition.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this L1th dav of June, A. D. 1919.

GEORGE F. ATWOOD. 

